Commandant
2100 Second Street, S.W.
United States Coast Guard
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Staff Symbol: G-CQM
Phone: (202) 267-2771
/
Email: innovation@comdt.uscg.mil
COMDTINST 1650.8
20 JUN 2003
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 1650.8
Subj:
CAPTAIN NIELS P. THOMSEN INNOVATION AWARD
Ref:
(a) Coast Guard Medals and Awards Manual, COMDTINST M1650.25 (series)
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction establishes the policies, procedures, and standards for administration of
the Captain Niels P. Thomsen Innovation Awards program.
2. ACTION. Area and district commanders, commanders of maintenance and logistics commands,
commanding officers of headquarters units, assistant commandants for directorates, Chief Counsel,
and special staff offices at Headquarters shall ensure that the provisions of this Instruction are
followed. Internet release authorized.
3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. Coast Guard Medals and Awards Manual, COMDTINST M1650.25
(series) will incorporate portions of this Instruction as necessary.
4. BACKGROUND. The Captain Niels P. Thomsen Awards for Innovation and Implementation are
hereby established to recognize the exemplary efforts of individual Coast Guard members or teams
that have created or implemented innovative solutions to Coast Guard challenges. The award's
namesake, Captain Niels P. Thomsen was honored for inventing the chain-stopper, which is used by
Coast Guard Buoy Tenders to secure and safely release the chain and sinker for buoys. This
innovative device has prevented countless accidents that previously had resulted in serious injuries
to personnel. The Commandant's Direction compels the Coast Guard to develop an environment
that values innovation. One effective way to nurture this environment is to institutionalize an award
process to recognize excellence in innovation and implementation. The Innovation Award Program
recognizes an individual or team for their ability to develop and implement creative ideas that have
resulted in the successful implementation of an innovative solution.
5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. All Coast Guard employees are eligible as nominees for the Innovation
Award Program. Nominees must be Coast Guard active duty, reserve, auxiliary, civilian, retired or
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